Beowulf: The Journey In Becoming A Hero

He is given the advice by Hrothgar a king and a father figure to Beowulf, to become a respected long living king. Beowulf follows Hrothgars advice to become a well respected king and warrior with fame after death. In Beowulf’s younger years he obtains a great confidence but never elevates to becoming arrogant and self centered. All warriors need to have a confidence to be successful, because if they are not the will be lead to a most unglorified demise. Beowulf has a great respect for his own skills, and before he goes to fight his first significant evil he does not ware armor because he feels it would be unfair advantage.

Beowulf does not slay the monster to protect his people, despite the fact that this was a direct result of the battle. According to Florman, “The quest for fame is of the utmost importance to a warrior trying to establish himself in the world.” (Florman) It is due to a prideful heart and a thirst for fame that Beowulf defeats

A well-respected, honored leader is a person that everyone strives to be. It is a type of person that everyone can look up to, try to emulate, and look in times of distress. When Beowulf decides to fight the dragon many thought he made the right decision for himself, but he was no longer able to defend his people which he knew it was time to pass on the leadership. Beowulf had no greed and did not desire any gold or riches. Also Beowulf shows great leadership in many ways by taking risks, and never fearing death.

Beowulf had plenty of courage, most men his age would have backed down and not fought, but Beowulf being the brave man he was, stood up in hopes to still protect his people. Beowulf is a courageous and strong hero because he shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero should possess. His actions toward Grendel show that he is willing to help others. Beowulf defeats Grendel, his mother, and a dragon until seriously injured. Beowulf has all of the characteristics that are expected from a hero.

Beowulf felt as if it was the right thing to do since he had been successful in past deeds which he proudly says in lines 321-322, where he says “They had in remembrance my courage and might. Many had seen me come safe from the conflict,”. Beowulf expected no reward for his action, but rather just being able to “put another notch in his belt.” Another heroic characteristic, which Beowulf possesses, is bravery. Bravery is being able to go against the odds and possibly risk your life in the process. An example of Beowulf showing bravery is when he goes to slay the dragon even though all his men abandon him.

His identity as a leader is based upon the Danish society’s emphasis on personal action, as opposed to the delegation of responsibility through conscious thought. It is this very sense which spurs Beowulf to fight the dragon: "In my youth I engaged in many wars. Old guardian of the people, I shall still seek battle, perform a deed of fame, if the evil-doer will come to me..." (59). Beowulf derives his power from a strong link to the past. Without his history of glorious deeds, he would see himself bereft of the very power which qualifies him to be a good King.

Among the warriors portrayed in the poem, Beowulf rises as the most heroic. Beowulf is considered a "hero" of the story because he does everything he can for his people. He also fought off Grendel and stopped the monster from killing anymore of Hrothgar’s men. In doing so it showed

In Beowulf the poem, Beowulf is considered to be an epic hero, he is different than just a regular hero. At the time, except for the King, warriors were the most honored and respected. Throughout this poem the author expresses that Beowulf is a true epic hero. What makes an epic hero? An epic hero must undertake a quest to achieve something tremendous value to his nation, must be super-human, and protects his people and their ideals.

Heroes always die a glorious death. Beowulf felt that in order for him to be remembered for the rest of time he needed to not only defeat Grendel and Grendel’s mother alone, but also defeat a Dragon flying into a certain death, solo. Beowulf was out to prove himself a strong, witty, brave warrior and he did indeed succeed. Additionally, he succeeded in feeding to his insecurities by boasting about his epic deeds. Beowulf will be known in the land of the Danes and the Geats as an epic hero for all time, even though Beowulf came to their rescue and aid for purely selfish reasons.

A hero fears not, death, nor destruction of his own being, but instead risks all that he is for what he believes to be right, moral, and just. In the time of the Anglo-Saxons’ reign of England it was noble and expected for a person of high honor to be more than loyal to his king. In fact, it was considered noble to be loyal to anything that was significant to humanity. In Beowulf, Beowulf is loyal to Higlac. "Higlac is my cousin and my king…(142)" says Beowulf in his preparation to do battle with the threatening monster, Grendel.